Consistently working to help the small businesses, Cannes has relaunched the successful and supportive initiative, #HelpCommerces. From the first weeks of confinement, last April, the Cannes City Hall had set up the innovative and concrete economic and social support system to accompany the independent tradesmen and craftsmen of Cannes, severely impacted by the health crisis linked to Covid-19.

Originally from Michigan, Kristin Grauer has been working in Foreign Services for over a decade. A specialist in business and economics, she has completed tours as an embassy economic officer in Baghdad and Moscow, and as a political officer in Monrovia, Liberia and Cotonou, Benin. In summer 2020, she took the post of Consul General of the United States Consulate of Marseille, a post that changes every four years.

As the Coronavirus crisis continues to keep us in confinement, restaurants and caterers are among the hardest-hit businesses. Here, we bring you the first-hand account of local Chef Theodora Hauzer, owner of United Flavours of Food Catering & Events in Villeneuve-Loubet. Originally from Singapore and classically trained in French cuisine, Chef Hauzer brings a unique Eurasian flavour to the Riviera and she was in high demand for private events. At the start of 2020, she closed her restaurant to focus on private catering. Then Covid happened. She shares with Riviera Insider her experience of the Coronavirus crisis, how she faces the continued uncertainty and the most important thing to get us through this year.

While we are all obsessively washing and disinfecting every surface, Riviera Insider health columnist, Christine Kjeldbjerg discusses the 'hygiene hypothesis' and why it is important to consider the link between germs and a healthy immune system. She gives her top five tips on supporting a healthy and robust immune system. 

Monaco has long been at the forefront of modern technology, including being the first country entirely 5G and the principality's significant investment in new energy, environmental sustainability and financing one of the first 'private' wings at the international space station. So it is no surprise that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another emerging field being led by the 2 KM country. A presentation on this exciting new world was hosted by Asteria at the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco, on 22 October.  

Our return to confinement has caused shops, restaurants and many companies to close their doors to the public. It's another devastating blow to local economies and many are trying to find ways of supporting commerce while respecting the regulations. Fortunately, a trend of "local consumption" is becoming more and more obvious to save our economy and support local shops, restaurants and craftsmen.

For years, Nice was the centre of life for film star Sean Connery, who became world-famous as THE James Bond actor and died last weekend at the age of ninety. The leading lady of his life, the Franco-Moroccan painter Micheline Roquebrune, came from the Côte d'Azur and they were happily married for almost 45 years. His granddaughters by marriage, the journalists Eve-Anna and Stéphanie Renouvin, were also born and raised in the region. Here, Rolf Liffers gives you a review of the Scot's life.

Despite the Coronavirus, Grasse and the neighbouring town of Le Rouret remain optimistic: they are planning their 25th truffle market for January. Then the noble black mushroom will be the centre of attention for two days, as customary. The season of aromatic Tuber Melanosporum is about to begin, however, the elusive fungus will not reach its full aroma until the middle of winter.